Ergocalciferol, sold under the brand name Calcitriol, is a vitamin D supplement used to treat hypoparathyroidism, a condition in which your parathyroid glands do not make enough parathyroid hormone to regulate your blood calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D levels. According to Drugs.com, ergocalciferol can also treat rickets (condition of bone softening) and low phosphate levels (hypophosphatemia). Ergocalciferol is available as a capsule or liquid, and you should take this supplement as your doctor prescribes.
Common Side Effects
Ergocalciferol typically does not have any common side effects since vitamin D is naturally found in your body. Vitamin D is a natural substance that takes on two forms as it metabolizes through your body. One form of vitamin D is ergocalciferol, while the other form is cholecalciferol. According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption.
Serious Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, ergocalciferol's serious side effects include irritability, difficulty concentrating, behavioral changes and frequent urination. It may cause such potentially life-threatening side effects as chest pain and trouble breathing. Chest pain typically results when your heart does not receive enough blood.
The National Library of Medicine indicates that taking excess amounts of ergocalciferol than prescribed can cause a potentially fatal medical condition called hypervitaminosis D. Symptoms of this condition include high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia), nausea, body aches, fatigue, constipation and anemia, a condition characterized by fatigue and pale skin. Other symptoms of hypervitaminosis D include kidney problems, brittle bones, calcification of your organs and blood vessels and stunted growth (in children). Call your physician immediately when ergocalciferol causes these effects.
Additional Concerns
Avoid ergocalciferol if you have high blood calcium or vitamin D levels. Ergocalciferol can exacerbate these conditions. Tell your doctor if you have heart or kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances or coronary artery disease, a condition in which the major blood vessels of your heart are blocked with cholesterol. Your doctor may have to adjust ergocalciferol's dose. This drugs is excreted into breast milk, so tell your physician if you are breastfeeding.
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